French manicure device

ABSTRACT

A device for applying a French manicure to a person&#39;s hand includes a graspable body portion that a user may hold with one hand while applying polish to a fingernail of the other hand. An extension member extends from the body portion in a proximal direction, toward a fingernail. An applicator member extends from the upper portion of the body portion in a proximal direction such that a gap is provided between the extension member and the applicator member. When a user wants to paint a particular fingernail in the French manicure style, she places her nail in the gap with her fingertip abutting an end portion of the extension member. With the applicator member supplied with fingernail polish, the user may move her finger from side to side so that the applicator member paints the portion of the nail extending into the gap in the French manicure style.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to beauty products, and more particularly to a device for easily and effectively applying a French-style manicure (“French manicure”) to a user's fingernails or toenails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A French manicure is a style of manicure in which the fingernails (or toenails) are painted so that they include a white band at their distal tips. The French manicure is a very popular style for women around the world, and it is especially noted for its simple, elegant appearance. However, French manicures are not simple to apply, and they typically require the steady hand of a professional.

When French manicures are applied using traditional techniques, a technician (or other person performing the manicure, including a self-manicurist) first uses nail polish remover to remove any old nail polish from all fingernails so that when the French manicure is applied, the previous polish does not show through. The nails may then be clipped and/or filed and buffed. Next, the nails should be soaked to soften the cuticles, which may then be pushed back.

Now that the nails have been prepped, the manicurist may apply a base coat (often pale pink) to each finger, from the cuticle to the nail tip. Next, the most challenging step of painting the white tips to the distal end of the fingernail may take place. The painted white tips should be crescent-shaped and should stop where the whites of the fingernails stop.

Some manicurists may use a French manicure kit including nail guides as a stencil to ensure that the tip paint goes on neatly. Other manicurists may use painter's tape to help guide the tip painting process. These aids can present issues, however, including sticking to or damaging the fresh base coat. Moreover, imperfectly aligned manicure kits or painter's tape may cause the nail tips to come out uneven or otherwise aesthetically unpleasant, thus causing the manicurist to restart the process. Other manicurists paint the nail tips on freehand, but doing so requires great skill, patience, and time. With today's hectic and busy working lifestyles, women often do not have time to properly paint their nails in the French manicure style. A solution that is easy and effective is desired in the marketplace.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A device for easily and effectively applying a French manicure to a person's hand is described herein. The improved French manicure device preferably includes a graspable body portion that a user (or technician) may hold with one hand while applying fingernail polish to a nail of her other hand, in the manner described below. An extension member may be integrally formed with the body portion at its lower portion that extends from the body portion in a proximal direction (nearer the fingernail when the polish is applied). Similarly, an applicator member may extend from the upper portion of the body portion in a proximal direction such that a gap is provided between the extension member and the applicator member.

When a user is ready to paint a particular nail in the French manicure style, she should place her nail in the above-described gap between the extension member and the applicator member with her fingertip abutting a proximal end portion, or shoulder, of the extension member. Her nail should be facing upwardly toward the applicator member. In this position, when the applicator member has been supplied with fingernail polish, the user may move her finger from side to side so that the portion of the nail extending into the gap is painted by the applicator member. Because the fingertip is abutting the shoulder of the extension member, the portion of the nail that is being painted maintains a consistent width as the paint is applied. Thus, the user is able to consistently and uniformly apply a band to the end portion of her nail in a manner consistent with the French manicure style.

Multiple embodiments of the French manicure device are described herein. In a first embodiment, the applicator member may be somewhat longer so that when a user having shorter fingernails abuts her fingertip to the shoulder, the applicator member extends farther and is able to cover the distal tip of the person's finger.

In another embodiment, where the person receiving the manicure has longer fingernails, the applicator member may be shorter, so that when the person's fingertip abuts the shoulder of the applicator member, the applicator member extends only as far as necessary to coat the distal end of the fingernail with nail polish.

In alternative embodiments, the applicator member may be adjustable so that it may be used with a variety of lengths of fingernails. In such an embodiment, the applicator member may be in communication with a sliding mechanism associated with the body portion. The slider member of the body portion is preferably attached to the applicator member toward its rear portion. Because the slider member is attached to the applicator member, when a person slides the slider member forwardly or rearwardly, the applicator member is similarly slid forwardly or rearwardly. The adjustability of the applicator member allows for use with a short nail, long nail, or any length between a short and long nail to be painted just at its tip portion.

In yet another embodiment altogether, in order to perform effectively the same function, the extension member of the body portion may be adjustable rather than the applicator member. In this embodiment and the other embodiments described above, the manner of painting the nail by placing the distal tip of the nail in the gap between the extension member and application member, and moving the nail from side to side, remains substantially the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a French manicure device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a first alternative embodiment of the French manicure device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second alternative embodiment of the French manicure device of FIG. 1 in a first position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the French manicure device of FIG. 3 in a second position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating yet another alternative embodiment of the French manicure device of FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a French manicure device that may be used to easily and effectively apply a French manicure to a person's fingernails (or toenails). Turning first to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a French manicure device 1 is provided. In FIG. 1, the French manicure device 1 is shown applying a French manicure to a finger 5, and more particularly a fingernail 10 that is an example embodiment of any human finger. When the French manicure device 1 applies a French manicure in the manner described below, a distal portion 15 of the fingernail 10 will be preferably painted with a thin crescent shaped tip in the French manicure style. For purposes of this application it should be noted that the distal direction is defined as toward the finger when referring to a French manicure device and toward the French manicure device when referring to a finger.

As shown in FIG. 1, the French manicure device 1 includes a body portion 20 that a manicurist (including a self-manicurist) may grip when applying the French manicure as described below. An extension member 25 is preferably integrally formed with the body portion 20 and extends in a proximal direction (toward the finger 5). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the body portion 20 is substantially cylindrical, but in alternative embodiments it may take on almost any number of geometric shapes, so long as it is easily graspable. The extension member 25 preferably is located on a lower portion 30 of the French manicure device.

On an upper portion 35 of the French manicure device 1, an applicator member 40 preferably extends toward the finger 5. The applicator member 40 may be made of a variety of materials including but not limited to foam, rubber, or even a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles. The applicator member 40 may apply paint when the French manicure device 1 is used. As such, prior to applying a French manicure, the applicator member 40 should be dipped or otherwise soaked in paint of a preferred color for applying the French manicure. Because the applicator member 40 extends distally from the upper portion 35 of the body portion 20, and the extension member 25 extends distally from the lower portion 30 of the body portion 20, a gap 45 is preferably provided between the applicator member 40 and the extension member 25.

When a finger is ready to be painted, it should be placed such that a fingertip portion 50 of the finger 5 abuts a shoulder member 55 that is at the distal end of the extension member 25. In this position, the fingernail 10 preferably extends into the gap 45 provided between the applicator member 40 and at the extension member 25. As shown in FIG. 1, because of the length of the applicator member 40, the distal tip 15 of the fingernail 10 is preferably the only portion of the nail 10 below the applicator member 40, and thus the only portion of the nail 10 that will be painted when the French manicure device 1 is used.

To use the French manicure device 1, a user such as a manicurist or self-manicurist may simply move the French manicure device 1 from side to side in a somewhat arc-like motion. In doing so, the applicator member 40, which as described above is already preloaded with nail polish, may apply a crescent- or arc-shaped paint tip to the distal portion 15 of the nail 10. A user may repeat this process for each nail that he or she wishes to paint and may simply reapply paint to the applicator member 40 if it dries out or otherwise runs out of nail polish.

Turning now to FIG. 2, in alternative embodiment of the French manicure device 1, more particularly a French manicure device 60, is provided. The French manicure device 60 is in many ways substantially similar to the French manicure device 1. However, unlike the French manicure device 1, the French manicure device 60 is preferably designed to paint longer fingernails than the nail 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. As such, the French manicure device 60 is illustrated as painting a nail 65 of a finger 70 that is longer than the nail 10 of the finger 5.

Like the French manicure device 1, the French manicure device 60 includes a body portion 75 substantially similar to the body portion 20 of the French manicure device 1. It also includes an extension member 80 that extends distally from the body portion 20 at a bottom portion 85 of the French manicure device 60. An application member 90 extends distally from an upper portion 95 of the body portion 75.

As illustrated, the application member 90 of the French manicure device 60 is substantially shorter and does not extend as far distally towards the fingernail 65 as the application member 40. This is because the application member 90 is preferably shortened to apply paint to a distal tip 100 of the nail 65. With a finger 70 positioned such that the fingernail 65 is within a gap 105 like the gap 45, the distal tip 100 of the nail 65 may be painted by the applicator member 90 is a manner substantially similar as described above with respect to the French manicure device 1.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manicure devices 1, 60 have simply been manufactured differently so as to have applicator members 40, 90 appropriate for different length fingernails 10, 65. However, in alternative embodiments, including those embodiments described below, the applicator member 40, 90 may be adjustable so that it may be used with a variety of fingernail lengths.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, an adjustable French manicure device 110 is illustrated. The adjustable French manicure device 110 operates in substantially the same way as the French manicure devices 1, 60 described above when polish is applied to the distal tip of a fingernail. As such, it includes many of the same components, such as a body portion 115 that may be gripped by a user, an applicator member 120, and a shoulder member 125 (illustrated in FIG. 4). In addition to the aforementioned components, the French manicure device 110 preferably includes a slider member 130 that is attached to the applicator member 120. The slider member 130 may be attached to the applicator member 120 in a variety of ways including adhesives, mechanical connections, or being integrally formed therewith.

Because the slider member 130 is attached to the applicator member 120, when the slider member 130 is moved rearwardly (proximally) or forwardly (distally), the applicator member 120 is similarly moved rearwardly or forwardly. This movement is shown and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. More particularly, in FIG. 3, the slider member 130 and thus the slider member 130 and thus the applicator member 120 have been pushed forwardly such that the applicator member 120 is in a position substantially similar to that of the applicator member 40 in FIG. 1. In that position, a user having a shorter fingernail may be better suited to use the manicure device 110. On the other hand, in FIG. 4, the slider member 130 has been pushed rearwardly, as has the applicator member 120. In this position, the French manicure device 110 may be operable to apply a French manicure to longer fingernails, such as in the French manicure device 60 described above. It further should be noted that the French manicure device 110 allows for a range of applicator member 120 lengths, and as such may be customizable to be the appropriate length for a particular user's fingernail length. Similarly, other means for adjusting the length of the applicator member 120 are herein envisioned.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic that is representative of yet another alternative embodiment. More particularly, a French manicure device 135 is shown and illustrated that, like the above described French manicure devices 1, 60, 110, includes a body portion 140, extension member 145, and applicator member 150. For FIGS. 3 and 4 above, the applicator member 120 is described as being adjustable. However, as shown in FIG. 5, either of the application member 150 or the extension member 145 may be adjustable in known or foreseeable ways so as to be appropriately configured for long or short fingernails.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A French manicure device, the French manicure device comprising: a graspable body portion; an extension member extending distally from a lower portion of the body portion, the extension member including a shoulder at a distal portion; and an applicator member extending distally from an upper portion of the body portion; wherein when a user places a finger between the extension member and the applicator member, a fingertip of the finger abuts the shoulder, and the applicator member is positioned to apply polish to a distal tip of a fingernail of the finger.
 2. The French manicure device of claim 1, wherein the extension member is integrally formed with the body portion.
 3. The French manicure device of claim 1, wherein the applicator member is comprised of at least one of foam, rubber, and a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles.
 4. The French manicure device of claim 1, wherein the applicator member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 5. The French manicure device of claim 1, wherein the extension member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 6. The French manicure device of claim 1, wherein the French manicure device further includes a slider member attached to the applicator member that may be used to adjust the applicator member in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 7. A French manicure device, the French manicure device comprising: a graspable body portion; an extension member extending distally from a lower portion of the body portion, the extension member including a shoulder at a distal portion; an applicator member extending distally from an upper portion of the body portion; and a gap provided between the extension member and application member where a user places a finger such that a fingertip of the finger abuts the shoulder, and the applicator member is positioned to apply polish to a distal tip of a fingernail of the finger.
 8. The French manicure device of claim 7, wherein the extension member is integrally formed with the body portion.
 9. The French manicure device of claim 7, wherein the applicator member is comprised of at least one of foam, rubber, and a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles.
 10. The French manicure device of claim 7, wherein the applicator member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 11. The French manicure device of claim 7, wherein the extension member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 12. The French manicure device of claim 7, wherein the French manicure device further includes a slider member attached to the applicator member that may be used to adjust the applicator member in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 13. A French manicure device, the French manicure device comprising: a graspable body portion; an extension member extending distally from a lower portion of the body portion; an applicator member extending distally from an upper portion of the body portion; and a gap provided between the extension member and application member where a user places a finger such that a fingertip of the finger abuts a distal portion of the extension member, and the applicator member is positioned to apply polish to a distal tip of a fingernail of the finger.
 14. The French manicure device of claim 13, wherein the extension member is integrally formed with the body portion.
 15. The French manicure device of claim 13, wherein the applicator member is comprised of at least one of foam, rubber, and a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles.
 16. The French manicure device of claim 13, wherein the applicator member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 17. The French manicure device of claim 13, wherein the extension member is adjustable in either of the distal or proximal direction.
 18. The French manicure device of claim 13, wherein the French manicure device further includes a slider member attached to the applicator member that may be used to adjust the applicator member in either of the distal or proximal direction. 